The rise of the Populist Party

National Farmers Alliance, Southern Alliance & Patrons of Husbandry set up to voice the concerns of the farmers.

By working with existing political parties, by 1890 they were able to field several candidates for state/national office.

In 1892 the Populist Party was born with James Weaver as candidate

DEMANDS - government ownership and operation of the railroad/telephone/telegraph.

Appealed to "fellow producers" in the cities and work togetehr against Big Business.

Terrified the businessmen/conservative politicians

1892 ELECTION - LITTLE TO FEAR - Made very little headway against industrial workers, despite winning a million votes. In the South, even amongst farmers, the Democratic party ruled supreme.

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Clevelands Second Term

Dominated by financial issues

"Panic of 1893" - economic depression caused by a drain on gold reserves

Cleveland "government interference would only make things worse, careful money supply managment would help rather than high spending"

Silver Purchase Act 1890 (increased the amount of silver to back currency) was then repealed by Cleveland and he then negotiated with JP Morgan, a deal for a $62 million loan and refused to alter the tariff.

Overall it was thought that Cleveland did very little

These measures by Cleveland convinced people that the President was just a tool of big business and did not care about ordinary citizens.

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The 1896 Campaign

The Republicans chose William Mckinley - a friend of big business who was closely associated with the 1890 Tariff and called for an increase in the tariff and a deflationary economic policy.

The Democrats chose William Jennings Bryan - stood for lower tariffs, free unlimited coinage of gold & silver, enlargment of the powers of the Interstate Commerce. (split the party as many who favoured the gold standard would not support him)

The Populists - Democrats were too similar!! If they supported the Democrats they'd only achieve some of their aims but if they had an individual candiate they'd split the vote!

In the end they put forward Tom Watson for Vice and supported Bryan.

THE END - Mckinley won every state east of the Mississippi/north of the Ohio whilst Bryan won the south and most of the west. McKinley triumphed.

The Democrats & Populists had won the rural vote but failed to convince enough people from the urban areas.